Transcription

                                       St. Augustines College,
                                                 April 25th 1855

                                                                                719

My dear James,
                         I was very pleased to receive a letter from you about three weeks ago, as I had been expecting to hear from you for some time,  and I was beaten [?] to [?] you a few lines in return, [?] either a [promise?] of a longer letter when I have [?] to tell you and have time to write.  I have just been writing home, and this takes much of my spare time, and what with [?] transatlantic and as at atlantic correspondence I am not always able to write, and when I wish. 
I am glad to hear you like Berrima so much:  from [?]description of [indecipherable] residence is charming, and it must be a lovely spot and I quite envy you, you give such a picture of your [personal?]  etc  I heard some time ago that you were building a new home, and I  want to know whether it is not very

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